Researchers have stepped up their efforts to identify a disturbing trend. There has been a sudden increase in breast cancer in Pacific Islander and Asian American women.
The rate of new breast cancer cases is increasing among AAPI women faster when compared to many other ethnic and racial groups.
Dr. Helen Chew at UC Davis Health, told CBS News that this is a “real trend”.
In 2021 approximately 11,000 Pacific Islander and Asian American (AAPI) women received a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Approximately 1,500 women died.
Until recently, AAPI women exhibited low rates of breast cancer but now we find the rates rising faster compared to other nationalities. But why?
Researchers believe the answer is attributed to many factors such as changes in culture and lifestyle. Admittedly, it is difficult to discuss even among family members.
Current Data
Current federal data indicates that the rate of breast cancer diagnoses in AAPI women under 50 is surpassing other ethnic and racial groups. Rates have risen 52% from 2000 through 2001.
Rates of breast cancer during this time frame for AAPI women:
- Ages 50 to 64 grew 33%
- Ages 65 and older increased 43%
As a comparison, the overall growth rate for all women was 3%.
Approximately fifty-five of every 100,000 AAPI women under the age of fifty received a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2021 according to NIH data.
Dr. Veronica Setiawan, a co-author of the study, commented that Asian women living in the United States will become more comfortable with Western lifestyles and these factors may increase the risk of breast cancer.
The researchers also noted significant increases in cases of thyroid, pancreatic, endometrial, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and colon cancer.
Source: CBS News
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Last modified: February 17, 2025
